Recall questions, answered
Short answers to the questions people ask most about product recalls: how to check a stroller, car seat, appliance, or vehicle, where the data comes from, and what to do when something you own turns up. Every answer links to the official source.
- How do I check if my stroller (or any product) is recalled?
- How do I check if my car has an open recall?
- How do I check if a car seat is recalled?
- Where does Recalled.co get its recall data?
- How often is the recall data updated?
- Is Recalled.co free?
- How do I get alerted when something I own is recalled?
- What should I do if my product is recalled?
- Is it legal to sell or donate a recalled product?
- Can I check a product by photo or barcode?
- Does Recalled.co cover food, drug, and medical device recalls?
- Is Recalled.co an official government site?
How do I check if my stroller (or any product) is recalled?
Type the brand and product name into the search box at recalled.co, for example "Graco Modes stroller" or "Fisher-Price Rock 'n Play". Results come from the official CPSC, NHTSA, FDA, and USDA recall databases, and every result links to the government notice so you can confirm the model numbers and dates affected. The search is free and needs no account.
How do I check if my car has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN at recalled.co/vin-check. The page decodes the VIN through NHTSA's public database, lists every open recall campaign for that vehicle, and links each one to the official NHTSA campaign page. NHTSA states that recall repairs are free at the manufacturer's dealership.
How do I check if a car seat is recalled?
Search the brand and model name, for example "Graco 4Ever" or "Chicco KeyFit", at recalled.co. Car seat recalls are issued by NHTSA and appear in the same results as CPSC recalls for cribs, strollers, and other children's products. The model number and manufacture date are printed on a label on the seat; compare them to the notice before you decide.
Where does Recalled.co get its recall data?
Recalled.co pulls recalls from four U.S. government sources: the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for consumer products, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for vehicles, car seats, and tires, the FDA's openFDA enforcement feed for food, drugs, medical devices, and cosmetics, and the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service for meat, poultry, and egg products. Recalled.co is an independent site and is not affiliated with any government agency.
How often is the recall data updated?
Every day. A scheduled job pulls new recalls from CPSC, NHTSA, FDA, and USDA each morning, and the VIN check queries NHTSA live at the time you search.
Is Recalled.co free?
Yes. Searching recalls and checking a VIN are free with no account. Saving the products you own for alerts is also free and requires a free account so we know where to send the notice.
How do I get alerted when something I own is recalled?
Add your products to My products at recalled.co/my-products by photo, barcode, or typing the brand and model. Vehicles can be saved by VIN. When a new recall matches a saved item, Recalled.co sends you an email, or a push notification if you enabled them. Alerts are best-effort and matching is by brand and model text, so always confirm on the official notice.
What should I do if my product is recalled?
Stop using it and read the official notice linked from the result. The notice names the remedy, which is a repair, a replacement, or a refund, and tells you how to contact the company. For vehicles, NHTSA requires the manufacturer to fix the defect, and the repair is free at the dealership. Do not sell, donate, or give away a recalled product before the remedy is completed.
Is it legal to sell or donate a recalled product?
No. The CPSC states that it is unlawful to offer a recalled consumer product for sale under Section 19 of the Consumer Product Safety Act, and this applies to used items, thrift stores, online marketplaces, and consignment sales. The CPSC's guidance for resellers is to destroy a recalled item rather than donate it, unless the recall repair has been completed.
Can I check a product by photo or barcode?
Yes, from My products. Take a photo of the product or its label, or scan the barcode, and Recalled.co identifies the brand and model, checks it against current recalls, and keeps watching it for new ones. Typing the brand and model works too.
Does Recalled.co cover food, drug, and medical device recalls?
Yes. Food recalls come from the FDA and the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, and drug, medical device, and cosmetic recalls come from the FDA's enforcement reports. Browse them by category from the homepage or search a brand name.
Is Recalled.co an official government site?
No. Recalled.co is an independent, privately run service that aggregates recall data published by U.S. government agencies. Every result links to the official notice on cpsc.gov, nhtsa.gov, fda.gov, or fsis.usda.gov, and the official notice is the authoritative source for what is covered and what to do.